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Roke Launches World's First Wide Area Military Communications Base Station
ROMSEY, England, June 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
Roke Manor Research today launches 'Battlefield Connect
[http://www.roke.co.uk/battlefieldconnect ]', a portable wireless broadband
base station which creates a private communications network for military
tactical deployments, whilst significantly enhancing spectrum use.
The Battlefield Connect evaluation system is the world's first portable
3G base station to have up to a 40km range, more than 40,000 times the area
covered by other similar devices. This extends the communications range
where no local infrastructure exists on military deployments, such as peace
keeping, special operations and assistance to population roles.
By providing a self contained dedicated 3G network, Battlefield Connect
achieves efficient spectrum access, supporting high bandwidth communications
such as streaming video from UAVs or imagery and biometric exchange, as well
as simultaneous voice communications, Internet access and texting. It is
also fully interoperable with the existing military command infrastructure.
Battlefield Connect is rapidly deployable. Once the base station is
switched on, mobile phones with the private network's SIM card work
immediately. This is an extremely cost effective and lightweight solution as
no specialist handset is required, negating the need for training and
reducing the soldier weight burden.
Battlefield Connect is also the first to support full mobility at speeds
of up to 120 kilometres per hour, allowing effective communications between
both static users, fast moving ground vehicles and UAVs.
James Fisher, Business Development Manager at Roke, said: "Spectrum
overload is a constant issue for the military. This is particularly so in a
coalition environment which makes spectrum use even more challenging as the
airwaves are extremely busy. Battlefield Connect allows an increased amount
of high bandwidth information to be channelled through the spectrum without
overloading it.
"3G technology is already widely used in the commercial world, meaning
that the expensive research and design has already been done. By using these
ready-made components to develop Battlefield Connect, we have created a cost
effective and resilient solution that will significantly improve the chain
of command during a military tactical deployment," said Fisher.
About Roke Manor Research Ltd http://www.roke.co.uk
Roke Manor Research Ltd, based in Romsey, Hampshire, is the principal
electronics research and development centre of Chemring Group Plc. Founded
in 1956, Roke is one of the UK's leading suppliers of innovative solutions
and contract R&D. Roke employs 450 staff and has over 430 patents to its
name. Roke pioneers developments in electronic sensors, networks, and
communications technology.
Roke has over 50 years of communications experience, providing customers
with technology consultancy through to product development. Roke's
communications expertise is focused on wireless technologies and it has
actively participated in 3G standardisation including LTE. For many years it
has undertaken radio access network (RAN) and core network (CN)
specification, architecture and design, together with the implementation and
customisation of wireless physical and link layers for both the commercial
mobile communications and defence markets.
Source: Roke Manor Research Ltd
For further information please contact: Russell Hardy, Roke, +44(0)1794-833000, russell.hardy@roke.co.uk
Roke Launches World's First Wide Area Military Communications Base Station
ROMSEY, England, June 28, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
Roke Manor Research today launches 'Battlefield Connect
[http://www.roke.co.uk/battlefieldconnect ]', a portable wireless broadband
base station which creates a private communications network for military
tactical deployments, whilst significantly enhancing spectrum use.
The Battlefield Connect evaluation system is the world's first portable
3G base station to have up to a 40km range, more than 40,000 times the area
covered by other similar devices. This extends the communications range
where no local infrastructure exists on military deployments, such as peace
keeping, special operations and assistance to population roles.
By providing a self contained dedicated 3G network, Battlefield Connect
achieves efficient spectrum access, supporting high bandwidth communications
such as streaming video from UAVs or imagery and biometric exchange, as well
as simultaneous voice communications, Internet access and texting. It is
also fully interoperable with the existing military command infrastructure.
Battlefield Connect is rapidly deployable. Once the base station is
switched on, mobile phones with the private network's SIM card work
immediately. This is an extremely cost effective and lightweight solution as
no specialist handset is required, negating the need for training and
reducing the soldier weight burden.
Battlefield Connect is also the first to support full mobility at speeds
of up to 120 kilometres per hour, allowing effective communications between
both static users, fast moving ground vehicles and UAVs.
James Fisher, Business Development Manager at Roke, said: "Spectrum
overload is a constant issue for the military. This is particularly so in a
coalition environment which makes spectrum use even more challenging as the
airwaves are extremely busy. Battlefield Connect allows an increased amount
of high bandwidth information to be channelled through the spectrum without
overloading it.
"3G technology is already widely used in the commercial world, meaning
that the expensive research and design has already been done. By using these
ready-made components to develop Battlefield Connect, we have created a cost
effective and resilient solution that will significantly improve the chain
of command during a military tactical deployment," said Fisher.
About Roke Manor Research Ltd http://www.roke.co.uk
Roke Manor Research Ltd, based in Romsey, Hampshire, is the principal
electronics research and development centre of Chemring Group Plc. Founded
in 1956, Roke is one of the UK's leading suppliers of innovative solutions
and contract R&D. Roke employs 450 staff and has over 430 patents to its
name. Roke pioneers developments in electronic sensors, networks, and
communications technology.
Roke has over 50 years of communications experience, providing customers
with technology consultancy through to product development. Roke's
communications expertise is focused on wireless technologies and it has
actively participated in 3G standardisation including LTE. For many years it
has undertaken radio access network (RAN) and core network (CN)
specification, architecture and design, together with the implementation and
customisation of wireless physical and link layers for both the commercial
mobile communications and defence markets.
Source: Roke Manor Research Ltd
For further information please contact: Russell Hardy, Roke, +44(0)1794-833000, russell.hardy@roke.co.uk